Bombay High Court dismisses Lalit Modi’s Petition

The Bombay High Court on Thursday rejected the petition filed by suspended IPL commissioner Lalit Modi seeking reconstitution of the disciplinary committee of BCCI to hear allegations against him relating to irregularities in the conduct of the T20 League.

The High Court said that it was not going into the merits of Modi’s petition but disciplinary committee itself can decide on the reconstitution when it meets on Friday.

Modi had said that he wanted the committee of independent persons and not of those who are the members of BCCI, as they would be biased against him.

Modi was slapped with three showcause notices after his suspension by the BCCI and has replied to all three notices.

In Thursday’s decision, the division bench of Justices B H Marlapalle and Roshan Dalvi said that it will be open for Modi to challenge the ultimate finding of the committee and at that point he can also raise the issue of legality of the constitution of the committee.

The bench also said that it will leave it to the present committee members whether they should withdraw on moral grounds.

Modi had challenged the cricket body’s decision to suspend him and prayed for quashing of the disciplinary proceedings against him.

Modi also prayed that the court appoint a mutually acceptable and independent person or panel to consider his replies to the three showcause notices issued to him by the Board.

The suspension order was issued to Modi by the BCCI on April 25 following which he was slapped showcause notices on April 26, May 6 and May 31. (PTI)